CIHM 
Microfich': 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microredroductions/lnstitut  canadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


on 


■    III 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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Couverture  endommagce 

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a 


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D 


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0   Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
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rj    Pages  detached  /  Pages  detachees 

I   /\   Showthrough  /  Transparence 

I      I   Quality  of  print  varies  / 


D 


D 


Quality  inegale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material  / 
Comprend  du  ma'enel  supplementaire 

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possible. 


i      I    Additional  comments  / 

' !    Commentaires  supplementaires: 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below  / 

Ce  document  est  filme  au  taux  de  reduction  Indigue  ci-dessous. 


lOx 

14x 

18x 

22x 

26x 

30x 

12x 


16x 


20x 


24x 


28x 


32x 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of 

Harriet  Irving  Library 
University  of  New  Brunswick 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres 
sion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate   All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON 
TINUED    ),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning     END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc  ,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios    Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required    The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grace  it  la 
g^n^rosit^  de; 

Harriet  Irving  Library 
University  of  New  Brunswick 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  fenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettete  de  I  exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  film6s  en  commencant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derni6re  page  qui  comoorte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  dillustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commencant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  dillustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derni^re  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dcs  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derni6re  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN" 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  etre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  I'angle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  ^  drolte, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


MICROCOPY    RESOIUTION    TEST    CHART 

ANSI   a.,d   ISO  TEST   CHART  No     2 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


'-  iilM 

"      136 


II  2.5 

12.2 

2.0 
1.8 


1.4 


1.6 


A      APPLIED   IM/1GE     Inc 


STRAY   BIRDS 


>> 


'^^y^° 


THK   MACMll.I.AN   COMl'ANY 

NEW  Vi>KK    ■    HfisTON        tHICAf.O    •    DALLAS 
A  1  LAM  A    •    SAN    fRANClSCO 

MACMll.I.AN  &  CO.,  Limited 

LONDON    •    BOMBAY        CALCITTA 
MELUUIKNE 

THE  MACMILLAN   CO.  OF  CANADA,  Ltd. 

TORONTO 


STRAY   BIRDS 


BY 


SIR   RABIXDRAXATII   TAGORE 

AUTHOK  OK  "  OITANJALI,  "   ETC. 


FRONTISPIE(E   IX   COLOUB 
BY    WILLY    POGANY 


Nrto  gork 
THE  MA(MILLA.\    COMPANY 


All  rip'Jf'  rf-er\.fj 


293610 


COPTRIOHT,    1916, 

By  THF.   MACMILI.AN   COMPANY. 
S.I  up  »nd  electtotyped.     Published  Norember,  1916. 


AOG    20  1970 


,T.  8.  CushlnK  Co.  -  Kerwlck  i  Smith  Co. 
Norwood,  Mass.,  I'SA. 


TO 

T.  KARA 

or 
YOKOHAMA 


STHaX"  "BTTR-DS 


Stray  birds  of  siirnmer  rome  to  my 
window  to  siii<f  iuid  fly  jiway. 

And  veliow  leaves  of  autumn,  which 
have  no  songs,  flutter  and  fall  there 
witli  a  sigh. 

2 

()  THori'f';  of  little  vagrants  of  the 

world,    leave    your    footprints    in    my 

words. 

S 

The  world  puts  off  its  mask  of  vast- 
ness  to  its  lover. 

It  hecomes  small  as  one  song,  as  one 
kiss  of  the  eternal. 


It  is  the  tears  of  the  earth  that  keep 
her  smiles  in  bloom. 

[7] 


STTRTiy"  TBT-RPS 


The  mijility  desert  is  burning  for 
(lie  love  of  a  hiado  of  grass  who 
shakes  lier  head  and  laughs  and  flies 
away. 


If  you  shed   tears  when  you   miss 
the  sun,  you  also  miss  the  stars. 


The  sands  in  your  way  beg  for  your 
song  and  your  movement,  dancing 
water.  Will  you  carry  the  burden  of 
their  lameness  ? 


8 


Her  wistful  face  haunts  my  dreams 
like  the  rain  at  night. 


STT^aX'-BT'RDS 


9 


Once  we  dreamt  that  we  were 
strangers. 

We  wake  up  to  find  that  we  were 
dear  to  eaeh  other. 


10 

Sorrow  is  hushed  into  peace  in 
my  heart  Hke  the  evening  among  the 
silent  trees. 

11 

Some  unseen  fingers,  like  idle  breeze, 
are  playing  upon  my  heart  the  nuisic 
of  the  ripples. 

12 

"What  language  is  thine,  O  sea?" 
"The  language  of  eternal  question." 

"  What  language  is  thy  answer,  ()  sky  .'* " 
"The  language  of  eternal  silence." 

[9] 


STHny  "BTTRDS 

13 

LisTFA',  my  lit'iirt,  to  the  wliispors 
of  the  world  with  which  it  makes  K)ve 
to  you. 

14 

TiiK  mystery  of  creation  is  like  the 
dark!iess  of  nii;lit  —  it  is  <,n-eat.  De- 
lusions of  knowledj^H'  are  like  the  fog 
of  the  morning. 

15 

Do  not  seat  your  love  upon  a  preci- 
pice because  it  is  high. 


16 

I  SIT  at  mv  window  this  morning 
where  the  world  like  a  passer-hy  stops 
for  a  moment,  nods  to  me  and  goes. 

[101 


i 


STKn?^ -BIRDS 


17 


TnF.sK  liftlo  tlioughts  are  the  rustle 
of  leaves;  they  have  their  whisper  of 
joy  ill  my  mind. 


18 


What  you  are  you  do  not  see,  what 
you  see  is  your  shadow. 


19 

My    wishes    are    fools,    they    shout 
aeross  thy  son^s,  my  Master. 
Let  me  but  listen. 


20 

I  CANNOT  choose  the  best. 
The  best  chooses  me. 
H] 


STTiar'"BT"RT>S 

TiiEY  throw  their  shadows  before 
them  who  carry  their  hintern  on  their 
back. 

That  I  exist  is  a  perpetual  surprise 

which  is  life. 

23 

"We,  the  rustling  leaves,  have  a 
voice  that  answers  the  storms,  but 
who  are  you  so  silent?" 

"I  am  a  mere  flower." 

24 
Res;'   belongs   to   the   work   as   the 
evelids  to  the  eyes. 


25 

Man  is  a  born  child,  his  power  is 

the  power  of  growth. 

\Vl\ 


STHny  -BT'RPS 


20 


God  expects  answers  for  the  flowers 
he  sends  us,  not  for  the  sun  and  the 
earth. 


27 


Thp:  light  that  ph\vs,  like  a  naked 
child,  among  the  green  leaves  happily 
knows  not  that  man  can  lie. 


28 


O  Beauty,  find  thyself  in  love,  not 
in  the  flattery  of  thy  mirror. 


29 
My  heart   beats  her  waves  at   the 
shore   of   the   world   and    writes    upon 
it    her    signature    in    tears    with    the 
words,  "I  love  thee." 
113] 


STKnr-  -BTRDS 


30 

"Mr)()\.  for  wlial  do  you  wait?" 
"To  salute  tlu'  sun  for  wlioin  I  must 
iiiako  way." 

31 

TiiK  tret's  couic  up  to  my  window 
like  the  ycaruiii-,'  voic '  of  the  dumh 
earth. 

Si 

His  own  mornin<i.s  are  new  ^^urprises 
to  (lod. 

33 

LiFK  finds  its  wealth  l)y  the  chiims 
of  the  worhl,  and  its  worth  by  tlie 
ehiims  of  love. 

34 

The  ilry  river-hed  finds  no  thanks 
for  its  past. 

[  14  1 


STKBT"  "BIRDS 

Tm;  l>inl  wislu-s  it  wore  a  cloud. 
The  cloiul  wislic's  it  were  u  bird. 

36 

Tmf:    waterfall    sink's,    "I    find    my 
song,  when  1  find  my  freedom." 


I 


37 

I  (AWOT  tell  why  this  heuit  lan- 
guislies  in  silence. 

It  is  for  small  needs  it  ne\er  asks, 
or  knows  or  remembers. 


38 


Woman,    when   you    move  about    in 
your  houselu)ld  service  your  limbs  sing 

like  a  hill  stream  among  its  pe})bles. 

11.5] 


39 

Thk  sum  goes  to  cross  llie  Western 
seu,  leaving  its  last  salutation  to  the 
East. 

40 

Do  not  hiaine  your  food  because 
you  have  no  appetite. 


41 

The  trees,  like  the  longings  of  the 
earth,  stand  a-tiptoe  to  peep  at  the 
heaven. 


42 

You  smiled  and  talked  to  nie  of 
nothing  and  I  felt  that  for  this  I 
had  been  waiting  long. 

[16] 


1 


STRa^  "BT-RDS 

43 

The  fish  in  the  water  is  silent,  tlie 
animal  on  the  earth  is  noisy,  the  bird 
in  the  air  is  singing, 

But  Man  has  in  him  the  silence  of 
the  sea,  the  noise  of  the  eartli  and  the 
music  of  the  air. 

44 

The  world  rushes  on  over  the  strings 
of  the  lingering  heart  making  the  music 
of  sadness. 

45 

He  has  made  his  weapons  his  gods. 
When    his    weapons    win    he    is    de- 
feated himself. 


46 


(ioD  finds  himself  by  creating. 
[171  c 


STRar-  "BTTRDS 

47 

Shadow,  with  lier  veil  drawn,  follows 
l^i<;lit  in  socrct  mcokness,  with  her 
silent  steps  of  love. 


48 

TiiK  stars  are  not  afraid  to  appear 
like  fireflies. 

49 

I  TiiAXK  thee  that  I  am  none  of  the 
wheels  of  power  hut  I  am  one  with  the 
livini;-  creatures  that  are  crushed  by  it. 


50 

Tin:    mind,    sliarj)    hut    not    t)road. 

sticks    at    every    jK)int    but    does    not 

move. 

118] 


STHar'-BT-RDS 


51 


Your  idol  is  shattered  in  the  dust 
to  prove  that  (iod's  dust  is  greater 
than  your  idol. 


52 


^Iax  does  not  reveal  himself  in 
his  history,  he  struggles  up  through 
it. 


53 

While  the  glass  lamp  rebukes  the 
<'arthen  for  calling  it  cousin,  the  moon 
rises,  and  the  glass  lamp,  with  a  bland 
smile,  calls  her,  —  "My  dear,  dear 
sister." 
[10] 


5TT?n^"BT'RDS 

54 

Like  the  meeting  of  the  seagulls 
and  the  waves  we  meet  and  come  near. 
Tlie  seagulls  fly  off,  the  waves  roll 
away  and  we  depart. 


55 

IVIy  day  is  done,  and  I  am  like  a 
boat  drawn  on  the  beach,  listening  to 
the  dance-nmsic  of  the  tide  in  the 
evening. 

56 

Life  is  given  to  us,  we  earn  it  by 
giving  it. 

57 

We  come  nearest  to  the  great  when 

we  are  great  in  humility. 

[20] 


ST'Rnr'  "BIRDS 


58 


The  sparrow  is  sorry  for  the  pea- 
cock at  the  burden  of  its  tail. 


59 

Never  be  afraid  of  the  moments  — 
thus  sings  the  voice  of  the  everlasting. 

60 

The  hurricane  seeks  the  shortest 
road  by  the  no-road,  and  suddenly 
ends  its  search  in  the  Nowhere. 


61 

Take  my  wine  in  my  own  cup, 
friend. 

It  loses  its  wreath  of  foam  when 
poured  into  that  of  others. 

[-211 


STKaX"  -BTTR-DS 


G2 


TiiK  Perfect   (leeks   itself  in   beauty 
for  the  love  of  the  Imperfect. 


63 


God  savs  to  man,  "I  heal  vou  there- 
fore  I  hurt,  love  you  therefore  punish." 


64 


Thank  the  flame  for  its  liijht,  hut 
do  not  for,:j;et  the  Ininphoider  standing 
in  the  shade  with  constancy  of  patience. 


65 

TiNV  £?rass,  your  steps  are  small, 
hut  you  possess  the  earth  under  your 
tread. 

[  ^^'^  I 


ST^RTiy  "BTTRPS 


or. 


Tin:  infant  flower  opens  its  l)iid 
and  cries,  "Dear  World,  please  do 
not  fade." 


67 


(loD  ^rovvs  weary  of  great  kingdoms, 
but  never  of  little  flowers. 


68 


Whont;    cannot    afford    defeat    but 
Ilight  can. 


69 

"I   GIVE  my   whole  water  in   joy," 
sings   the   waterfall,   "though   little  of 
it  is  enough  for  the  thirsty." 
[  -^:5 1 


70 

Where  is  the  fountain  that  throws 
up  those  flowers  in  a  ceaseless  outbreak 
of  ecstasy  ? 

71 

The    woodcutter's    axe    begged    for 
its  liandh^  from  the  tree. 
Tlie  tree  gave  it. 


72 

Ix  my  solitude  of  heart  I  feel  the 
sigh  of  this  widowed  evening  veiled 
with  mist  and  rain. 


73 

Chastity   is   a   wealth    that   comes 
from  abundance  of  love. 


ST'Rnr'  -BTTRPS 


74 


The  mist,  like  love,  plays  upon  the 
heart  of  the  hills  aiul  brings  out  sur- 
prises of  beauty. 


75 

We  read  the  world  wrong  and  say 
that  it  deceives  us. 


76 

The  poet  wind  is  out  over  the  sea 
and  the  forest  to  seek  his  own  voice. 


77 

/     Every  child  comes  with  the  message 
that    God    is   not   yet    discouraged   of 
man. 
[i5] 


STHa>^  "BTTRDS 


The  f^rass  seeks  her  crowd  in  tlie 
earth. 

The  tree  seeks  his  solitude  of  tlie 
sky. 


7f) 


Man  barricades  against  liimself. 


80 

Your  voice,  my  friend,  wanders  in 
my  lieart,  like  the  muffled  sound  (»f 
the  sea  among  these  listening  pines. 


81 

What  is  this  unseen  flame  of  dark- 
ness whose  sparks  are  tlie  stars  ? 

[26] 


STHny  -BTTRDS 


82 


I, FT   life    1k'   hcautiful    like   suinm(T 
owors  and  dcatli  liko  uulumn  U-uvcs. 


83 


IIt:  who  wants  to  do  ^'ood  knocks 
at  \ho  ^'atc;  lie  wlio  lovos  finds  the 
«iate  open. 


84 

I\  deatli  the  many  becomes  one; 
ill  life  tlie  one  })econies  many. 

Religion  will  he  one  when  God  is 
dead. 

85 
TiiF.  artist   is   the  lover  of  Nature, 
therefore    he    is    her    slave    and    her 

master. 

(27  1 


I 


STTRar""BT'R'DS 


86 

"How  far  are  you  from  me,  0 
Fniit?" 

"I  am  lii(l<l(Mi  in  your  lieart,  () 
Flower." 

87 

Tins  lon^injj  is  for  tho  one  wlio  is 
felt  in  the  dark,  hut  not  seen  in  th(« 
(hiv. 

88 

"Yor  are  the  hi^'  drop  of  dew  under 
the  lotus  leaf,  I  am  tlie  smaller  one 
on  its  upper  side,"  said  the  dewdrop 
to  the  lake. 

89 

TiiK  scabbard  is  content  to  be  dull 
when  it  protects  the  keenness  of  the 
sword. 

[28] 


STT?n>^  -BTKDS 

90 

In  (larknoss  the  Ono  apprars  as 
uniform  ;  in  tlu-  lij^lit  the  One  appears 
as  iiiauifolci. 


91 


TiiK  Ki*<'Jit  ^''^i''^'  makes  herself  hos- 
pitable with  the  hell)  of  the  grass. 

The  hirtli  and  death  of  the  leaves 
are  the  rapid  whirls  of  the  eddy 
whose  wider  cireles  move  slowly  among 
stars. 

93 

Power  said  to  the  world,  "You  are 

mine." 

The  world   kept   it  priscmer  on  her 

throne. 

[-29] 


I 

i 


STKaX"  "BT-RDS 

Love  said  to  the  world,  "I  am 
Ihiiic." 

Tlio  world  ^'ave  it  the  freedom  of 
her  house. 


94 

The  mist  is  like  the  earth's  desire. 
It  hides  the  sun  for  whom  she  eries. 


95 


Be  still,  my  heart,  these  great  trees 
are  prayers. 


96 

Tfii:  iioist>  of  (he  moment   scoffs  at 
the  mu>ie  of  the  Eternal. 


STPar-  -BTTR-DS 


97 


I  THINK  of  otlior  a,<,'os  \hv\  :i<,ate(l 
upon  llic  stream  of  life  an  '  iovc  and 
(icall;  and  aro  for<4()lloii,  .  'id  I  feel 
tlu'  freedom  of  passing  away. 


98 


The    sadness    of    my    soul    is    her 
bride's  veil. 

It  waits  to  he  lifted  in  the  night. 


99 

Dkath's  stamp   gives   value   to   the 
coin  of  life;    making  it  possii)le  to  huy 
with  life  what  is  truly  precious. 
[311 


STHar*  "BTTRDS 

100 

The  cloud  stood  liumbly  in  a  corner 
of  llic  sky. 

The  niorning  crowned  it  with  splen- 
dour. 

101 

The    dust     receives    insult    and    in 
return  otl'ers  her  flowers. 

UH 

Do  not  linger  to  j^mlher  flowers  to 
keej)  them,  hut  walk  on,  tor  flowers 
will  keep  themselves  blooming  all  your 
way. 

lO.s 

Roots    are    the    branches    down    in 

the  earth. 

Branches  are  rools  in  the  air. 

[  3^2  ] 


STHH>^"BT'RDS 


104 


The  music  of  the  far-away  siimmor 
flutters  arouud  the  Autumn  seeking 
its  former  nest. 


105 


Do  not  insult  your  friend  by  lend- 
ing him  merits  from  your  own  pocket. 


106 


The  touch  of  the  nameless  days 
clings  to  my  heart  like  mosses  round 
the  old  tree. 


107 

The  echo  mocks  her  origin  to  prove 
she  is  the  original. 

[33]  ° 


ST'RTiy  "BT-RPS 


108 


(loD  is  jishaiiu'd  wlien  the  prosperous 
boasts  of  His  sj)eci:il  favour. 


109 


I   CAST   my   own   shadow   upon    my 
path,  l)e(ause  I  have  a  hinip  that  lias 


not  been  Hghted. 


110 

Max  iJ;oes  into   the  noisy  crowd   to 
drown  his  own  chimour  of  silence. 


Ill 

That   which   ends   in   exhaustion   is 

death,  hut  the  perfect  ending  is  in  the 

endless. 

[34] 


SI  T^nX- "BTTTDS 

112 

The  sun  has  his  simple  robe  of 
li^ht.  The  clouds  are  decked  with 
gorgeousness. 

lis 

The  hills  are  like  shouts  of  children 
who  raise  their  arms,  trying  to  catch 
stars. 

114 

The  road  is  lonely  in  its  crowd  for 
it  is  not  loved. 

115 

The  power  that  boasts  of  its  mis- 
chiefs is  laughed  at  by  the  yellow- 
leaves  that  fall,  and  clouds  that  pass 
by. 

[35] 


h 


STKar-BT-RDS 

116 

The  earth  hums  to  mo  to-day  in  tlie 
sun,  hke  a  woman  at  Ikt  spiniiinj^-, 
some  haUad  of  the  ancient  time  in 
a  forgotten  tongue. 

117 

The  grass-Made  is  worthy  of  the 
great  world  where  it  grows. 


118 

Dream  is  a  wife  who  must  talk. 
Sleep    is    a    husband    who    silently 
suffers. 

119 

The  night  kisses  the  fading  day 
whispering  to  his  ear, "  I  am  death,  your 
mother.     I  am  to  give  you  fresh  birth." 

[36] 


STTRnX*  "BT'R'DS 

1^20 

I  FEEL  tliy  beauty,  dark  nif^'ht,  like 
that  of  the  loved  woman  when  she 
has  put  out  the  lamp. 

121 

I  CARRY  in  my  world  that  flourishes 
the  worlds  that  have  failed. 

122 

Dear  friend,  I  feel  the  silence  of 
your  great  thoughts  of  many  a  deep- 
ening eventide  on  this  beach  when  I 
listen  to  these  waves. 


123 


The  bird  thinks  it  is  an  act  of  kind- 
ness to  give  the  fish  a  lift  in  the  air. 

[37] 


STHaX"  "BIRDS 

124 

"I\  the  moon  thou  sendost  tliy  love 
letters  to  mo,"  said  the  ni^'ht  to  the 
sun. 

"I  h'uvc  my  answers  in  tears  upon 
the  grass." 


125 


Tup:  Great  is  a  born  child  ;  when  he 
dies  he  <j;ives  his  great  childhood  to 
the  world. 


126 

Not  hammerstrokes,  but  dance  of 
the  water  sings  the  pebbles  into  per- 
fection. 

[38] 


sT-RayBT-R-Ds 


m 

Lep:s  sip  lionoy  from  flowers  and 
hum  their  llianks  when  they  h'ave. 

The  gaudy  butterfly  is  .>>ure  tliat  the 
flowers  owe  thanks  to  liim. 

HH 

To  be  outspoken  is  easy  when  you 
do  not  wait  to  speak  the  complete 
truth. 

Asks  the  Possible  to  the  Impossible, 
"Where  is  your  dwelling  plaee?" 

"In  the  dreams  of  the  impotent," 
comes  the  answer. 


130 
If  you  shut  your  door  to  all  errors 
truth  will  be  shut  out. 
[39] 


STRflX"  "BTTR-DS 


l.'U 


I  iri:\i{  some  rustle  of  tliin^rs  l)eliiii(l 
my   sadness  of  lioart,  —  1  cannot  .see 

tlicin. 


i;h 


f.FJsi  [{j;  in  its  activity  is  work. 
The  stillness  of  the  sea  stirs  in  waves. 


1:53 

The  leaf  becomes  flower  when  it 
loves. 

The  flower  becomes  fruit  when  it 
worships. 

1.14 

The  roots  below  the  earth  claim  no 
rewards  for  making  the  branches  fruit- 
ful. 

[40] 


135 

This  rainy  evening  the  wind  is 
restless. 

I  look  at  the  swaying  !)ranfhes  and 
ponder  over  the  greatness  of  all  thing's. 


136 

Storm  of  midnight,  like  a  giant 
child  awakened  in  the  nntiniely  dark, 
has  begun  to  play  and  shout. 


1S7 

Thou   raisest   thy   waves   vainly   to 
follow^  thy   lover,   ()  sea,   thou   lonely 
bride  of  the  storm. 
[41] 


STT^aX"  -BTTR-DS 


i;?8 


"T  AM  asliiiriicfl  of  my  cmptinoss," 
said  (lie  Word  to  the  Work. 

"I  know  how  poor  I  am  when  I  soo 
.voii,"  said  tlic  Work  to  the  Word. 


IflO 


Time  is  the  wealth  of  change,  hut 
the  clock  in  its  parody  makes  it  mere 
cliaii<,'e  an  1  no  wealtli. 


140 


Truth  in  her  dress  finds  facts  too 
tight. 

In  fiction  she  moves  with  ease. 

[4^2] 


in 

Whfa'  I  travelled  to  here  and  to 
there,  I  was  tired  of  lliee,  O  Road, 
Imt  now  when  thou  leadest  me  to 
everywhere  I  am  wedded  to  thee  in 
love. 


142 

Let  me  think  that  there  is  one 
amon^'  those  stars  that  ^'ui(!es  my 
life  through  the  dark  unknown. 


143 

Woman,  with  the  grace  of  your 
fingers  you  touched  my  things  and 
order  came  out  like  music. 

[43] 


STT^ay-  "BTTRDS 

144 

0.\i:  sad  voice  has  its  nest  among 
the  ruins  of  the  years. 

It  sings  to  me  in  the  night, —  "I 
loved  vou." 


14.5 


The  flaming  fire  warns  me  off  hv 
its  own  glow. 

Save  me  from  the  dying  embers 
hidden    under   ashes. 


146 


I  HAVE  my  stars  in  the  sky, 
But  oh  for  my  little  lamp  unlit  in 
my  house. 

[44] 


STPn^'BT'RPS 

147 

Thk  dust  of  tlie  (lead  words  clings 
to  thee. 

Wash  tliy  soul  with  silence. 

UH 

Gaps  are  left  in  life  through  which 
comes  the  sad  music  of  death. 


\.0 

The  world  has  opened  its  heart  of 
light  in  tlie  morning. 

Come  out,  my  heart,  with  thy  love 
to  meet  it. 

1.50 

My  thoughts  shimmer  with  these 
shimmering  leaves  and  my  heart  sings 
with  the  touch  of  this  sunlight  ;    my 

[45] 


ST'Rnr--BTTR-DS 

life  is  glad  to  be  floating  with  all  things 
into  the  blue  of  space,  into  the  dark  of 
time. 

151 

God's  great  power  is  in  the  gentle 
breeze,  not  in  the  storm. 


152 

This  is  a  dream  in  which  things  are 
all  loose  and  they  oppress.  I  shall 
find  them  gathered  in  thee  when  I 
awake   and   shall    be   free. 


153 

"Who  is  there  to  take  up  my 
duties.^"  asked  the  setting  sun. 

"I  shall  do  what  I  can,  my  Master," 
said  the  earthen  lamp. 

[46] 


ST^ar'  'BT-RDS 


154 


By  plucking  her  petals  you  do  not 
gather  the  beauty  of  the  flower. 


155 


Silence  will  carry  your  voice  like 
the  nest  that  holds  the  sleeping  birds. 


156 


The   Great    walks    with    the  Small 
without  fear. 

The  Middling  keeps  aloof. 


157 


The  night  v)pens  the  flowers  in  secret 
and  allows  the  day  to  get  thanks. 

[47] 


STRn>^  "BT-RPS 


158 


PowKH  takes  as  ingratitude  the  writh- 
ings  of  its  victims. 


159 

Whex  we  rejoice  in  our  fulness, 
then  we  can  part  witli  our  fruits  with 

joy- 

IfiO 

The  rain(h'()})s  kissed  tlie  earth  and 
wliispered,  —  "  We  are  tliy  homesick 
children,  mother,  come  back  to  thee 
from  the  heaven." 


161 


The  col^weh  pretends  to  catch  dew- 
drops  and  catches  flies. 

[48] 


STPar' "BIRDS 


169 


Love!  when  you  come  with  the 
burning  lamp  of  pain  in  your  hand,  I 
can  see  your  face  and  know  you  as 
bliss. 


163 


"The  learned  say  that  your  lights 
will  one  day  be  no  more."  said  the  fire- 
fly to  the  stars. 

The  stars  made  no  answer. 


164 

In  the  dusk  of  the  evening  the  bird 
of  some  early  dawn  comes  to  the  nest  of 
mv  silence. 
[49]  ■ 


STKa>^"BT'RPS 

165 

Thoughts    pass    in    my    mind    like 
flocks  of  (lucks  in  the  sky. 

I  hear  the  voice  of  their  wings. 

166 

The  canal  loves  to  think  that  rivers 
exist  solely  to  supply  it  with  water. 

167 

The  world  has  kissed  my  soul  with 
its  pain,  asking  for  its  return  in  songs. 


168 

That  which  oppresses  me,  is  it  my 

soul  trying  to  come  out  in  the  open, 

or  the  soul  of  the  world  knocking  at 

my  heart  for  its  entrance  ? 

[50] 


169 

Thought  feeds  itself  with  its  own 
words  and  grows. 

170 

I  HAVE  dipped  the  vessel  of  my  heart 

into  this  silent  hour ;   it  has  filled  with 

love. 

171 

Either  you  have  work  or  you  have 

not. 

When  you  have  to  say,  "Let  us  do 
something,"  then  begins  mischief. 


172 

The  sunflower  blushed  to  own  the 
nameless  flower  as  her  kin. 

The  sun  rose  and  smiled  on  it,  saying, 
"Are  you  well,  my  darling?" 
[51] 


STHny""BTm)s 


17S 


"Who  drives  me  forward  like  fate?" 
"Tlie  Myself  striding  on  my  back." 


174 


The  ciouds  fill  the  watercups  of  the 
river,  hiding  themselves  in  the  distant 
hills. 


175 


I  SPILL  water  from  my  water  jar  as  I 
walk  on  my  way. 

Very  little  remains  for  my  home. 


176 

The  water  in  a  vessel  is  sparkling; 
the  water  in  the  sea  is  dark. 

The  small  truth  has  words  that  are 
clear ;  the  great  truth  has  great  silence. 

[52] 


177 

Your  smile  was  the  flowers  of  your 
own  fields,  your  talk  was  the  rustle 
of  your  own  mountain  pines,  but  your 
heart  was  the  woman  that  we  all 
know. 


178 

It  is  the  little  things  that  I  leave 
behind  for  my  loved  ones,  —  great 
things  are  for  everyone. 


179 

Woman,  thou  hast  encircled  the 
world's  heart  with  the  depth  of  thy 
tears  as  the  sea  has  the  earth. 

[53] 


180 

The  sunshiiio  greets  me  with  a  smile. 
The  rain,  iiis  sad  sister,  talks  to  my 
heart, 

181 

My  flower  of  le  day  dropped  its 
petals  fori^otten. 

In  the  evening;  it  ripens  into  a  golden 
fruit  of  memory. 

182 

I  AM  like  the  road  in  the  night  listen- 
ing to  the  footfalls  of  its  memories  in 
silence. 


183 

The  evening  sky  to  me  is  like  a  win- 
dow, and  a  lighted  lamp,  and  a  waiting 

behind  it. 

[54] 


STHfl^  -BT  WDS 

184 

He  who  is  too  busy  doing  good  finds 
no  time  to  be  good. 

185 

I  AM  the  autumn  cloud,  empty  of 
rain,  see  my  fulness  in  the  field  of 
ripened  rice. 

186 

They  hated  and  killed  and  men 
praised  them. 

But  (lod  in  shame  hastens  to  hide 
its  memory  under  the  green  grass. 

187 
Toes  are  the  fingers  that  have  for- 
saken their  past. 

[55] 


STPny-BTTTDS 

188 

Darkness  travels  towards  light,  l)ut 
i)lin(lness  towards  death. 


189 

The  pet  dog  suspects  the  universe 
for  scheming  to  take  its  place. 


190 

Sit  still  my  heart,  do  not  raise  your 
dust. 

Let  the  world  find  its  way  to  vou. 


«/  «. 


191 


The  bow  whispers  to  the  arrow  before 
it    speeds   forth  —  "Your   freedom    is 


mme. 


[56] 


STHSy  -BT-R-DS 


192 


Woman,  in  your  lauKHter  you  have 
the  music  of  the  fountain  of  life. 


193 


A  MIND  all  logic  is  like  a  knife  all 
blade. 

It  makes  the  hand  bleed  that  uses  it. 


194 


God  loves  man's  lamp  lights  better 
than  his  own  great  stars. 


195 


This  world  is  the  world  of  wild  storms 
kept  tame  with  the  music  of  beauty. 

[57] 


ST'Rny--BT'RI>S 

196 

"My  heart  is  like  the  jjolden  casket 
of  thy  kiss,"  said  the  sunset  cloud  to 
the  sun. 

197 

By  touching  you  may  kill,  by  keep- 
ing away  you  may  possess. 


198 

The  cricket's  chirp  and  the  patter  of 
rain  come  to  me  through  the  dark,  like 
the  rustle  of  dreams  from  my  past 
youth. 

199 

"I  HAVE  lost  my  dewdrop,"  cries  the 
flower  to  the  morning  sky  that  has  lost 
all  its  stars. 

[58] 


STimy  "BIRDS 


200 


The  burning  log  bursts  in  flame  and 
cries,  —  "This  is  my  flower,  my  death." 


£01 

The  wasp  thinks  that  the  honey- 
hive  of  the  neighbouring  bees  is  too 
small. 

His  neighbours  ask  him  to  build  one 
still  smaller. 

2012 

"I  CANNOT  keep  your  waves,"  says 
the  bank  to  the  river. 

"Let  me  keep  your  footprints  in  my 
heart." 

203 

The  day,  with  the  noise  of  this  little 
earth,  drowns  the  silence  of  all  worlds. 
159] 


204 

The  song  feels  the  infinite  in  the  air, 
the  picture  in  the  earth,  the  poem  ni 
the  air  and  the  earth ; 

For  its  words  have  meaning  that 
walks  and  music  that  soars. 


205 

When  the  sun  goes  down  to  the 
West,  the  East  of  his  morning  stands 
before  him  in  silence. 


206 

Let  me  not  put  myself  wrongly  to 
my  world  and  set  it  against  me. 

[60] 


STHay-BTH-DS 

207 

Praise  shames  me,  for  I  secretly  beg 
for  it. 

208 

Let  my  doing  nothing  when  I  have 
nothing  to  do  become  untroubled  in  its 
depth  of  peace  like  the  evening  in  the 
seashore  when  the  water  is  silent. 


209 

Maiden  your  simplicity,  like  the 
blueness  of  the  lake,  reveals  your 
depth  of  truth. 

210 

The  best  does  not  come  alone. 
It  comes  with  the  company  of  the  all. 
[61] 


STKaX'"BTTlDS 


211 


God's    right    hand    is    gentle,   but 
terrible  is  his  left  hand. 


212 


My  evening  oame  among  the  alien 
trees  and  spoke  in  a  language  which  my 
morning  stars  did  not  know. 


213 


Night's  darkness  is  a  bag  that  bursts 
with  the  gold  of  the  dawn. 


214 


Our  desire  lends  the  colours  of  the 
rainbow  to  the  mere  mists  and  vapours 
of  life. 

[62] 


STT?n>^  "BIRDS 


215 


>.OD    waits    to    win    back    his    own 
flowers  as  gifts  from  man's  hands. 


«16 

My  sad  thoughts  tease  me  asking  me 
their  own  names. 

217 

The  service  of  the  fruit  is  precious, 
the  service  of  the  flower  is  sweet,  but 
let  mv  service  be  the  service  of  the 
leaves  in  its  shade  of  humble  devotion. 


218 

My  heart  has  spread  its  sails  to  the 
idle  winds  for  the  shadowy  island  of 
Anywhere. 
[63] 


i 


ST-Rnr-  "BT-RDS 


219 

Men  are  cruel,  but  Man  is  kind. 

220 

Make  me  thy  cup  and  let  my  fulness 
be  for  thee  and  for  thine. 


221 

The  storm  is  like  the  cry  of  some  god 
in  pain  whose  love  the  earth  refuses. 

222 

The   world   does   not   leak   because 
death  is  not  a  crack. 


223 

Life  has  become  richer  by  the  love 
that  has  been  lost. 

[64] 


STHa?^  "BIRDS 

My  friend,  your  great  heart  shone 
with  the  sunrise  of  the  East  like  the 
snowy  summit  of  a  lonely  hill  in  the 
dawn. 

225 

The  fountain  of  death  makes  the 
still  water  of  life  play. 

226 

Those  who  have  everything  but 
thee,  my  God,  laugh  at  those  who 
have  nothing  but  thyself. 

227 

The  movement  of  life  has  its  rest  in 
its  own  music. 
[65]  , 


ST-RayBT-RPS 


228 


Kicks  only  raise  dust  and  not  crops 
from  the  earth. 


229 


Our  names  are  the  light  that  glows 
on  the  sea  waves  at  night  and  then  dies 
without  leaving  its  signature. 


230 


Let  him  only  see  the  thorns  who  has 
eyes  to  see  the  rose. 


SSI 

Set  bird's  wings  with  gold  and  it 

will  never  again  soar  in  the  sky. 

[66] 


232 

The  same  lotus  of  our  clime  bloonis 
here  in  the  alien  water  with  the  same 
sweetness,  under  another  name. 


233 

In  heart's  perspective  the  distance 
looms  large. 

234 

The  moon  has  her  light  all  over  the 
sky,  her  dark  spots  to  herself. 


235 

Do  not  say,  "It  is  mornin<?,"  and  dis- 
miss   it    with    a    name    of    yesterday. 
See  it  for  the  first  time  as  a  new-born 
child  that  has  no  name. 
[67] 


Smoke  hojists  to  the  sky,  and  Ashes 
to  tlie  eurlh,  that  thev  are  brothers  to 
the  fire. 


237 

The  raindrop  whispered  to  the  jas- 
mine, "Keep  nie  in  your  heart  for 
ever." 

The  jasmine  sighed,  "Alas,"  and 
dropped  to  the  ground. 


238 


Timid  thoughts,  do  not  be  afraid  of 


me. 


I  am  a  poet. 


[68] 


♦f: 


,  « 


'»'   ,f 


m 


STKTir- -BIRDS 


«39 


The  dim  silcMice  of  my  mind  seems 
filled  with  crickets'  chirp  —  tlie  grey 
twilight  of  sound. 


240 

Rockets,  your  insult   to   the  stars 
follows  yourself  back  to  the  earth. 


241 

Thou  hast  led  me  through  my 
crowded  travels  of  the  day  to  my 
evening's  loneliness. 

I  wait  for  its  meaning  through  the 
stillness  of  the  night. 
[69] 


STHay-  "BTT^PS 


J4^ 


Tfiis  life  is  llio  crossin*^  of  a  sea, 
where  we  meet  in  tlie  same  narrow  ship. 

In  death  we  reach  the  shore  and  go 
to  our  different  worlds. 


243 


The  stream  of  truth  flows  through 
its  channels  of  mistakes. 


244 

My  heart  is  homesick  to-day  for  the 
one  sweet  hour  across  the  sea  of  time. 


245 

The   hird-song   is   the   echo   of   the 
morning  light  hack  from  the  earth. 

[70] 


L-     -i- 


;»«,::,"■        f'% 


STHn^  -BIRDS 


240 


"Are  you  too  proud  to  kiss  me?" 
the  morning  light  asks  the  buttercup. 


247 

"How  may  I  sing  to  thee  and  wor- 
ship, ()  Sun?"  asked  the  little  flower. 

"  By  the  simple  silence  of  thy  purity," 
answered  the  sun. 

248 

Man  is  worse  than  an  animal  when 
he  is  an  animal. 


249 

Dark      clouds      become      heaven's 
flowers   when   kissetl   by   light. 
[71] 


STPay^  "BIRDS 

250 

Let  not  the  sword-blade  mock  its 
handle  for  being  blunt. 


251 

The  night's  silence,  like  a  deep  lamp, 
is  burning  with  the  light  of  its  milky 
way. 

252 

Around  the  sunny  island  of  Life 
swells  day  and  night  death's  limitless 
song  of  the  sea. 


253 


Is  not  this  mountain  like  a  flower, 
with  its  petals  of  hills,  drinking  the 
sunlight.' 

[72] 


:^^^7^',.^ 


ST'Rnr'  "BTTTDS 


9J1 

The  real  with  its  meaning  read  wrong 
and  emphasis  misplaced  is  the  unreal. 

i55 

Find  your  beauty,  my  heart,  from 
the  world's  movement,  like  the  boat 
that  has  the  grace  of  the  wind  and  the 
water.. 

256 

The  eyes  are  not  proud  of  their  sight 
bit  of  their  eyeglasses. 


«57 

I  LIVE  in  this  little  world  of  mine  and 
am  afraid  tc  make  it  the  least  less. 
Lift  me  into  thy  world  and  let  me  have 
the  freedom  gladly  to  lose  my  all. 

[73] 


STKa>^ -BIRDS 


258 


The  false  can  never  grow  into  truth 
by  growing  in  power. 


259 

My  heart,  with  its  lapping  waves  of 
song,  longs  to  caress  this  green  world 
of  the  sunny  day. 

260 

Wayside  grass,  love  the  star,  then 
your  dreams  will  come  out  in  flowers. 


261 

Let  your  music,  like  a  sword,  pierce 
the  noise  of  the  market  to  its  heart. 


»-n' 


•  I ,    ,  o  ■ 


STHaX-  ■BT'R-DS 


262 


The  trembling  leaves  of  this  tree 
touch  my  heart  like  the  fingers  of  an 
infant  child. 


263 


This  sadness  of  ray  soul  is  her  bride's 
veil. 

It  waits  to  be  lifted  in  the  night. 


264 


The  little  flower  lies  in  the  dust. 
It  sought  the  path  of  the  butterfly. 


265 

I  AM  in  the  world  of  the  roads. 

The  night  comes.     Open  thy  gate, 
thou  world  of  the  home. 
[75] 


STRn>^  "BT-RBS 


266 

I  HAVE  sung  the  songs  of  tliy  day. 
In  the  evening  let  me  carry  thy  himp 
through  the  stormy  path. 

267 

I  DO  not  ask  thee  into  the  house. 
Come  into  my  infinite  h)neliness,  my 
Lover. 

2fiS 

Df:ath  belongs  to  life  as  birth  does. 
The  walk  is  in  the  raising  of  the  foot 
as  in  the  laying  of  it  down. 


269 

I  HAVE  learnt  the  simple  meaning  of 
thy  whispers  in  flowers  and  sunshine  — 
teach  me  to  know  thy  words  in  pain 
and  death. 

[76] 


STT?nX"  "BTTRDS 


270 


TiiK  night's  flower  was  late  when  the 
morning  kissed  licr.  she  shivered  and 
siglied  and  dropped  to  tlie  ground. 


271 


Through  the  sadness  of  all  things 
I  hear  the  erooning  of  the  Eternal 
Mother. 


272 


I  CAME  to  your  shore  as  a  stranger,  I 
lived  in  your  house  as  a  guest,  I  leave 
your  door  as  a  friend,  my  earth. 


273 

Let  my  thoughts  come  to  you,  when 
I  am  gone,  like  the  afterglow  of  sunset 

at  the  margin  of  starrv  silence. 

[77] 


STPay-BTTRDS 


274 

LifJiiT  in  my  heart  the  evening  star 
of  rest  and  then  let  the  night  whisper 
to  nie  of  love. 

275 

I  AM  a  cliild  in  tlie  dark. 
I  streteh  my  hands  through  the  cov- 
erlet of  night  for  thee,  Mother. 


276 

*^E  day  of  work  is  done. 
'di      n  yorjr  arms,  Mother. 


Hide  my 


I  -f 


me   iream. 


277 


'I  H.       (up  of  meeting  burns  long;    it 
gots  o   I  ill  a  moment  at  the  parting. 

[78] 


STHa^^-BTTTDS 


278 


One  word  keep  for  me  in  thy  silence, 
()  World,  when  I  am  dead,  "I  have 
loved." 


279 


We  live  in  this  world  when  we  love 


it. 


280 


Let  the  dead  have  the  immortality 
of  fame,  but  the  living  the  immortality 
of  love. 


281 

I  HAVE  seen  thee  as  the  half- 
awakened  child  sees  his  mother  in  the 
dusk  of  the  dawn  and  then  smiles  and 
sleeps  again. 

[79] 


STT?n?^  "BT-RPS 

282 

I  SHALL  die  again  and  again  to  know- 
that  life  is  inexhaustible. 

283 

While  I  was  passing  with  the  crowd 
in  tlie  road  I  saw  thy  smile  from  the 
balcony  and  I  sang  and  forgot  all  noise. 


284 

Love  is  life  in  its  fulness  like  the  cup 
with  its  wine. 


285 

They  light  their  own  lamps  and  sing 
their  own  words  in  their  temples. 

But  the  birds  sing  thy  name  in  thine 
own  morning  light,  —  for  thy  name  is 

joy. 

[80] 


n  *«..-' 


i^J^^M^^a^^*! 


STPnX- "BIRDS 


286 

Lead  me  in  the  centre  of  thy  silence 
to  fill  my  heart  with  songs. 

287 

Let  them  live  who  choose  in  their 
own  hissing  world  of  fireworks. 

My  heart  longs  for  thy  stars,  my  God. 


€ 


288 


Love's  pain  sang  rounti  my  life 
like  the  unplumhed  sea,  and  love's  joy 
sang  like  birds  in  its  flowering  groves. 


r3 


289 

Put  out  the  lamp  when  thou  wishest. 

I  shall  know  thy  darkness  and  shall 
love  it. 
[811  Q 


mjL 


STKTiy"  -BTTTDS 


*  \ 


'ii)0 


When  I  stand  hcfore  thee  at  the 
(lay's  end  tliou  slialt  see  my  scars  and 
know  that  I  had  my  wounds  and  also 
my  healing. 


«91 

Some  day  I  shall  sing  to  thee  in  the 
sunrise  of  some  other  world,  "I  have 
seen  thee  before  in  the  light  of  the 
earth,  in  the  love  o'"  man." 


292 

Clouixs  com'^  floating  into  my  life 
from  other  days  no  longer  to  shed  rain 
or  usher  storm  but  to  give  colour  to 
my  sunset  sky. 

(8?1 


■ippiiPil 


.&M^^^...i4yiiL.^ 


^.■i.ri 


STTRaX-BTRDS 


293 


TuuTii  raises  apiiinst  itself  the  storm 
that  scatters  its  seeds  broadcast. 


294 


TllK  storm  of  the  last  night  has 
crowned  this  morning  with  golden 
peace. 


295 


Truth  seems  to  come  with  its  final 
word  ;  and  the  final  word  gives  birth  to 
its  next. 


296 

Blessed  is  he  whose  fame  does  not 
outshine  his  truth. 

[831 


'^-i  -- 


IP 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST    CHART 

ANSI  and  ISO  'EST  CHART  No    2 


1.0 

'■  112.8        i  2,5 

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=  -:    liiM         2,2 

!:;;3  6         '     = 

;-  u      2.0 

1.8 

I.I 

1.25 

1.4 

1111= — 
1.6 

^     ,>^PPlIED   IIVMGE     Inc 


STT<a^  -BTTR-DS 


297 


Sweetness  of  thy  name  fills  my 
heart  when  I  forget  mine  —  like  thy 
morning  sun  when  the  mist  is  melted. 


298 


The  silent  night  has  the  beauty  of 
the  mother  and  the  clamorous  day 
of  the  child. 


299 


The  world  loved  man  when  he  smiled. 
The  world  became  afraid  of  him  when 
he  laughed. 


300 


God   waits   for   man    to   regain   his 

childhood  in  wisdom. 

[84] 


ST-Rny  "BIRDS 


301 


Let  me  feel  this  world  as  thy  love 
taking  form,  then  my  love  will  help  it. 


302 

Thy  sunshine  smiles  upon  the  winter 
(lays  of  my  heart,  never  doubting  of  its 
spring  flowers. 

303 

God  kisses  the  finite  in  his  love  and 
man  the  infinite. 


304 

Tnou  Grossest  desert  lands  of  barren 
years  to  reach   the   moment    of  fulfil- 
raent. 
[85] 


STPay"  "BIRDS 

305 

God's  silence  ripens  man's  thoughts 
into  speech. 

306 

Thou   wilt    find,    Eternal   Traveller, 
marks  of  thy  footsteps  across  my  songs. 

307 

Let  me  not  shame  thee.  Father,  who 
(lisplayest  thy  glory  in  thy  children. 


308 

Cheerless  is  the  day,  the  light 
under  frowning  clouds  is  like  a  pun- 
ished child  with  traces  of  tears  on  its 
pale  cheeks,  and  the  cry  of  the  wind  is 
like  the  cry  of  a  wounded  world.  But 
I  know  I  am  travelling  to  meet  my 
Friend. 

[88] 


STTiny  -BTTRDS 


To-night  tliort'  is  a  stir  among  tlio 
palm  leaves,  a  swell  in  the  sea,  Full 
Moon,  like  the  heart  throh  of  the 
world.  From  what  unknown  sky  hasl 
thou  carried  in  thy  silence  the  aching 
secret  of  love  ? 

310 

I  nuiOAM  of  a  star,  an  island  of  light, 
where  I  shall  he  horn  and  in  the  depth 
of  its  quickening  leisure  my  life  will 
ripen  its  works  like  the  ricetield  in  the 
autumn  sun. 

311 

The  smell  of  the  wet  earth  in  the 
rain  rises  like  a  great  chant  of  praise 
from  the  voiceless  multitude  of  the 
insignifieant. 

[87  1 


K^jU 


STH?1>-  "BT-RDS 


'Mi 


That  love  can   ever  lose  is  a  fact 
that  we  cannot  accept  as  truth. 


313 

Wk  shall  know  some  day  that  death 
can  never  roh  us  of  that  which  our 
soul  has  ^'ained,  for  her  gains  are  one 
with  herself. 

314 

God  comes  to  me  in  the  dusk  of  my 
evening  with  the  flowers  from  my 
past  kept  fresh  in  his  basket. 

315 

Whex  all  the  strings  of  my  life 
will  be  tuned,  my  Master,  then  at 
every  touch  of  thine  will  come  out  the 
music  of  love. 

[88] 


STHn>^  "BIRDS 


.'JIG 


Let  me  live  truly,  my  Lord,  so  that 
death  to  me  become  true. 


S17 


Man's  history  is  waiting  in  patience 
for  th-  triumph  of  the  insulted  man. 


318 


I  FEEL  thy  gaze  upon  my  heart  this 
moment  like  the  sunny  silence  of  the 
morning  upon  the  lonely  field  whose 
harvest  is  over. 


319 

I  LOXG  for  the  Lsland  of  Songs  across 
this  heaving  Sea  of  Shouts. 
[89] 


STPay-  -BTTTDS 


iHO 


The  prelude  of  the  night  is  com- 
menced in  the  music  of  tlie  sunset,  in 
its  solemn  hymn  to  the  ineffable  fhirk. 


321 

I  HAVE  scaled  the  peak  and  found  no 
shelter  in  fame's  l)leak  and  l)arren 
height.  Lead  me,  my  (iuide.  before 
the  light  fades,  into  the  valley  of 
quiet  where  life's  harvest  mellows  into 
golden  wisdom. 

322 

Things  look  phantastic  in  this  dim- 
ness of  the  dusk  —  the  spires  whose 
bases  are  lost  in  the  dark  and  tree  tops 
like  blots  of  ink.  I  shall  wait  for  the 
morning  and  wake  up  to  see  thy  city 
in  the  light. 

[90] 


STRa>^  "BIRDS 


I  HAVE  suffered  and  despaired  and 
known  death  and  I  am  g)  '  that  I  am 
in  this  great  world. 

324 

There  are  tracts  in  my  life  that  are 
bare  and  silent.  They  are  the  open 
spaces  where  my  busy  days  had  their 
light  and  air. 

Release  me  from  my  unfulfilled 
past  clinging  to  me  from  behind  mak- 
ing death  difficult. 


326 


Let   this  be  my  last  word,  that  I 
trust  in  thy  love. 

[91] 


Printed  in  thp  fnitpd  States  of  America. 


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THE  WORKS  OF  RABINDRANATH  TAGORE 
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The  Hungry  Stonei  and  Other  Stories. 

Fruit-Gathering. 

Chitra:  A  Play  in  one  act. 

The  Crescent  Moon:  Child  Poems. 

The  Gardener:  Love  Poems. 

Gitanjali:  Religious  Poems. 

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The  Hungry  Stones  and  Other  Stories 

By  RABINDRANATH  TAGORE 

Author  of  "Fruit  Gathering,"  "Gitanjali,"  "The 
Crescent  Moon,"  etc. 

Some  of  the  more  notable  of  Mr.  Tagore's  short 
stories  are  here  presented  in  transhitions  hy  the 
author  anci  with  ilkistrations  hy  native  InrHa;  ar- 
tists. Ernest  Rhys,  in  his  biography  of  Tagore, 
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